Jake McCarthy hit a bases-loaded triple down the left-field line off closer Aroldis Chapman to lift the Rockies to a wild, redemptive, 3-2 win over the Red Sox.

“I was just trying to put it into play,” said McCarthy, who connected on Chapman’s 99.6 mph sinker. “I wanted anything but a strikeout or a double play ball. I was just looking for a good pitch to hit.”

The Rockies connected on eight consecutive hits off Boston relievers Garrett Whitlock and Chapman over the last two innings to pull out the victory, although baserunning errors in the eighth appeared to have cost Colorado the game.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Colorado is the first team since at least 1961 — when the expansion era began — with eight hits in their final eight plate appearances of a game.

The winning rally began with rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield steering Chapman’s 0-2, 85.3 mph slider into left field. Then Hunter Goodman hit a solid single to left, and rookie Cole Carrigg put down a nifty bunt between the mound and third for a base hit to load the bases.

Then came McCarthy’s moment.

“That was surreal, and it obviously hasn’t sunk in,” McCarthy said. “Off a great pitcher like that … it all happened so fast. I just want to give credit to my teammates. You saw the inning before, it was like five straight line drives.”

Monday’s victory gave the Rockies their third walk-off win of the season, and it was just the third time in franchise history that the Rockies won a nine-inning game in walk-off fashion when they entered the ninth inning with no runs. Also, Colorado improved to 11-10 in one-run games after going 18-23 in one-run games during last year’s 119-loss season.

“That was incredible,” Schaeffer said. “Eight straight hits to end the ball game there against two world-class pitchers, Whitlock and Chapman. I mean, they don’t quit. We’ve been saying it all year. We fight till the end, and tonight we got rewarded for it. I mean, just hats off, hats off to all of them.”

Jake McCarthy clears the bases with a WALK-OFF TRIPLE

— MLB (@MLB)

The ninth inning was pure redemption, because a Keystone Cops eighth inning was a baserunning disaster.

With one out and two men on, Edouard Julien was thrown out at plate trying to score on Willi Castro’s bloop single to centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Julien got a green light from third base coach Andy Gonzalez, but Julien was thrown out by four steps.

Then Tyler Freeman singled to right. This time, Mickey Moniak got the stop sign at third from Gonzalez, but Castro motored past second base, got caught in no-man’s land and was easily thrown out.

Schaeffer was quick to defend Gonzalez. Asked if the third base coach should have help up Julien, Schaeffer said, “No, I’ll never say that. I coached third base in the big leagues for a couple years, and it’s an extremely hard job. I will never never say that. Rafaela made a perfect throw.”

Regarding Castro getting thrown out, Schaeffer said, “We just have to run with our heads up to see what’s going on.”

The wild ending came on the back of a tight pitcher’s duel.

Boston finally broke through against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner with two outs in the sixth. Wilyer Abreu reached on a low roller to third baseman Kyle Karros and Wilson Contreras ripped Feltner’s 2-2 fastball into the right-field corner to score Abreu. Feltner walked Jarren Darren, advancing Contreras to second, setting up Caleb Durbin’s run-scoring single to left.

Feltner rode a rollercoaster but pitched well enough for Colorado to win. He worked six innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked four.

“I felt good, I was efficient and I felt like all of my stuff was working in the zone,” Feltner said. “I was not super-sharp in the beginning, but I was able to settle in.”

Feltner walked Mickey Gasper to open the game, but Gasper was erased on a double play. Then Feltner walked Abreu but got out of the inning unscathed when Contreras flew out to center fielder Cole Carrigg.

Colorado had no solution for Red Sox lefty Jake Bennett, who allowed just four hits (all singles), struck out nine and walked none. The Rockies’ mini-threat in the third was snuffed out by a diving catch in center by Rafaela. Karros hit a one-out single to left and Ezequiel Tovar followed with a dying line drive to center, but Rafaela made his catch for the second out. Castro lined out to center for the third out.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.12, ERA) at Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-1, 10.29), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.93) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.36), 1:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Cole Carrigg’s off to a pretty solid start in his MLB career, but why was he promoted instead of Charlie Condon or Zac Veen? Was he just playing that much better than them? Is it to manage their service time in the majors? A little of both? Thanks.

— Marshall, Parker

Marshall, since you submitted your question, Carrigg has been sensational. It’s not about service time.

In the Rockies’ excruciating loss to the Cubs on Monday night, he drove in all four runs and hit an eighth-inning, three-run home run that should have stood as the game-winner.

Carrigg plays with a swagger and an edge, and in that regard, he reminds me of Troy Tulowitzki as a rookie. I asked one of Tulo’s former teammates if he shared my opinion.

“I see some,” the teammate responded. “Tulo wasn’t on the razor’s edge of out of control like Carrigg.”

Anyway, to your question, the Rockies front office sees a lot of things that fans don’t see, and that I don’t see or consider. Paul DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, recently told me that they take a hard look at “the process” a player has in the minors as a major part of their decision on when to promote a player.

Carrigg has proven that he was ready. I think promotions for Condon and Veen could very well depend on what happens as the trade deadline nears.

Patrick, I heard you’re leaving soon. It’s been a pleasure reading your coverage all these years. The Denver sports community is losing an absolute legend. What are some of the most memorable moments of your career?

— Ryan C., Aurora

Ryan, thanks for your kind comments.

Leaving The Post after nearly 28 years is a hard and emotional decision, but it was time. The buyout I was offered made me accelerate my retirement timeline. The baseball beat, particularly covering a losing Rockies team over the last few years, has been a grind. Plus, the industry is changing fast, and I’m becoming a bit of a dinosaur.

I have far too many memories to mention here in any detail, so I will list a few: Rocktober; covering all three of the Broncos’ Super Bowl title wins; watching Nolan Arenado play third base; spending time in the dugout talking baseball and music with Bud Black; being at Todd Helton’s house in Tennessee when he got the call that he was elected to the Hall of Fame; working with some incredible colleagues, especially Kyle Newman and Troy Renck; crazy, fun times in the press box with the crew; covering games at all 30 major league ballparks; having Coors Field as my office on perfect summer nights; and forming a friendship with MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, with whom I’ve had a bromance for 25 years.

I’ll be writing a farewell story soon, so keep an eye out for it.

Did you expect T.J. Rumfield to be our breakout star this season? I certainly didn’t, but, boy, is it nice to have a solution at first base after so many years of failed experiments. Do you think he’ll win the Rookie of the Year award?

— Mike, Denver

Mike, I was excited about Rumfield after seeing him play in spring training and reading the reports on his skill set. As I wrote in February: “T.J. Rumfield was a big-league first baseman trapped in Triple-A limbo.”

But I have been surprised by the quality of his at-bats; he’s been hitting like a seasoned veteran. His glove work at first base has been outstanding.

However, I don’t think he’ll be named the National League’s top rookie, for a few reasons.

First, he plays in Colorado for a team with the worst record in baseball and he’s not going to get much attention from the baseball writers who vote for the award.

Second, he plays his home games at Coors Field, which will automatically disqualify him in the minds of some voters. That’s a shame, because he’s hit just as well on the road as at home. At Coors, he’s slashing .263/.353/.449 (.802 OPS), with five homers and 22 RBIs. On the road, he’s slashing .287/.359/.465 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

Third, there are several strong candidates, led by Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt, Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, and Mets right-hander Nolan McLean.

Are you surprised, disappointed, or comfortably numb by how the Rockies have performed so far this season?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Comfortably numb? You must be a Pink Floyd fan.

Anyway, I’m not sure my characterization is on your list. I would say mildly encouraged, but the state of the pitching staff is a huge concern.

Hey Patrick! Who do you think has the best shot at becoming our lone representative at the All-Star Game? I thought it was going to be Mickey Moniak before he went on IL. I feel like our best shots are Hunter Goodman, Antonio Senzatela or Tomoyuki Sugano.

— Ryan, Aurora

Ryan, the Rockies will have only one representative, and it’s going to be Goodman for the second consecutive season. As I write this, he’s slashing .255/.327/.537 (.864 OPS) with 27 RBIs.

The Rockies rode rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s two-run home run in the fourth inning to beat the Cubs 5-2 and snap a 10-game losing streak at Wrigley Field.

Colorado’s bullpen, which suffered a nightmarish meltdown in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday night, delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jaden Hill pitched a perfect ninth to record his first career save.

Key moments: The fourth inning was huge. Trailing 2-0, Colorado got a leadoff single from Jake McCarthy, an RBI double from Willi Castro, and Rumfield’s homer to take a lead it didn’t relinquish.

Who’s hot: Outfielder Jake McCarthy, finally healthy after a stomach illness, hit 3 for 4 and scored a run in the fourth. He’s hitting .291 with a .784 OPS.

Starter Ryan Feltner rebounded from a poor start in his last game and a rocky start on Tuesday night to put Colorado in a position to win. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

In Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs at Coors Field last week, he gave up six runs on four hits across 4 1/3 innings. Tuesday night, Feltner served up a leadoff homer to sizzling-hot Pete Crow-Armstrong and gave up another run in the second before settling in.

Rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg made a terrific catch in center field in the eighth, going into the ivy to rob Michael Busch of extra bases.

Who’s not: Carrigg, at the plate. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, though he did draw a walk and steal second base in the eighth.

Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar continues to play excellent defense, but his struggles at the plate continue. He went 0 for 3 with a K, though he did draw a walk and score a run in the fifth. Tovar has struck out at least once in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak of his career. He fanned in 18 consecutive games from Aug. 8-29, 2024.

Worth noting: Outfielder Mickey Moniak is on the road back from injury. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since May 22 with right ankle tendinitis, but he’s making progress. He’s scheduled for Triple-A Albuquerque rehab games on Thursday through Saturday. He’ll return to Denver on June 21 to be evaluated by the medical staff, manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Chicago.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.76) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.98), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.79), 7:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies no longer embarrass themselves with split-squad spring training lineups or pitchers who need a compass to find the strike zone. It had grown so odorous, seven straight losing seasons, three consecutive with 100 losses. The spectacular failure was made worse by leadership hilariously trying to camouflage incompetence with arrogance.

The on-field product has made strides. The Rockies entered Saturday 26-44. They did not reach this win total last season until July 23 when they were 26-76.

It makes me think the 2027 or 2028 Purple Rox could become the 2026 Chicago White Sox.

All of which means nothing.

And the best thing is that the new front office recognizes this.

“In general, there has been some improvement. But, we have to be realistic. We have a ways to go,” general manager Josh Byrnes told The Post. “We have to get better, create something sustainable and maintain high standards as we chase that.”

Approaching the midpoint of the season, the Rockies are likable and watchable. They are in such a better place that it is easy to forget the mountains left to climb. Colorado is on pace for 60 wins. The fact that number is encouraging provides a reminder of how awful things had become.

Crowing about avoiding 100 losses is like bragging about being valedictorian when home-schooled.

It is why Byrnes was reluctant to acknowledge the inching forward.

Truth is: what have they done?

There are pockets of success that should not be ignored, like first baseman T.J. Rumfield’s rookie-of-the-year candidacy, Antonio Senzatela’s remarkable conversion from MLB’s worst starter to a dominant reliever, Willi Castro’s versatility and Cole Carrigg’s caffeinated energy, his promotion a reflection of the organization’s emphasis on swing decisions that will translate to the big leagues — 15 % strikeout rate, 11 % walk rate in Triple-A.

Of course, there is the gnashing of teeth about the pitching. The Rockies play at altitude and, at times, without gravity.

The historically strong April for the rotation seems like forever ago because of injuries to Chase Dollander — he is likely facing UCL surgery in his right elbow — and Jose Quintana (elbow) and the Coors Field fatigue of Kyle Freeland.

Sean Sullivan provided a jolt in his big league debut on Friday, but it is hardly soothing balm on this headache.

Forget Byrnes and president Paul DePodesta; Connie Mack and Branch Rickey were not fixing the Rockies overnight.

But the franchise belongs to the new leaders, and it is time for them to flex their muscles.

The trade deadline is not until Aug. 3, but there is little to be gained by waiting.

Other than catcher Hunter Goodman and Dollander, no player should be untouchable.

The Rockies have started calling around, piecing together potential fits and wants, aiming to accelerate Colorado’s return to contention.

“We are constantly in touch with other teams. The brainstorming is constant. Some are more motivated than others,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes showed shrewdness in acquiring Rumfield for forgettable reliever Angel Chivilli. They recently landed minor league reliever Andrew Baker from the Phillies for international bonus pool space. Don’t be surprised if the right-hander is in the big leagues in a few months.

Moves of all sizes must be considered and executed over the next seven weeks. This is why DePodesta and Byrnes were hired. They have friends across baseball who will actually take their calls.

The biggest chip is shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. He has $50 million remaining on his contract after this season. That cost certainty is the reason for not dealing him, and why he could land a haul of prospects if the acquiring club believes he will hit.

It is obvious Senzatela will be dealt. Getting a future major league piece back is paramount.

If somebody wants to overpay for Seth Halvorsen so the Rockies get two relievers like him, pull the lever.

Mickey Moniak provides professional at-bats and power. But the timing could be right to move him for a legitimate prospect given the way Charlie Condon and Zac Veen are pushing the envelope in Triple-A. Or keep Moniak and package Veen as part of a bigger deal.

Nobody wants to sell low on center fielder Brenton Doyle, but contenders covet defense. Colorado has to listen.

The Rockies’ leaders don’t have all the answers. I prefer those making decisions have fallibility and humility. It makes their efforts thorough and exhaustive, adjectives long a stranger on Blake Street.

The deadline and the July draft are the touchstones for overhauling a franchise. For too long in Colorado, they brought dread, inactivity and embarrassment, or all of the above.

It is on these front office executives to change the narrative.

Their knowledge, their experience, their willingness to take chances on deals and waiver claims, like Troy Johnston, will be needed to revive a franchise that has made ignoring baseball a local pastime.

The job started in the winter. But the real work begins now, where right moves can put the Rockies on the White Sox’s trajectory. Chicago went 41-121 and 60-102 over the past two seasons, and is on pace to finish 88-74 this year.

Rox to Sox? That works.

“You can get out of it. Detroit kind of flipped it. Miami is doing better. Baltimore tanked and turned it around,” Byrnes said. “And the White Sox are showing what can happen with savvy moves. We have made progress, but we are nowhere near where we want and need to be.”

But how high has it climbed? And how much better must the offense become to make the Rockies a team with legitimate playoff aspirations? The results have been mixed.

Manager Warren Schaeffer said recently that the Rockies had made “incredible strides,” crediting hitting coaches Brett Pill and Jordan Pacheco, along with Paul DePodesta, president of baseball operations, and general manager Josh Byrnes, for the improvements.

To review, this is the kind of offense Schaeffer envisions.

“We want to put the ball in play, because we were punching out so doggone much last year,” he said. “We want to move the line (by) using the bunt hit, walking, stealing bags, and just playing total offense. That’s what I believe in. That’s what I’ll always believe. Our personnel is directed more toward that this year, for sure.”

The Blake Street Bombers aren’t coming back, so the Rockies are trying to create a well-rounded offense that pressures the opposition and doesn’t go dormant on the road so often.

“Over 162 games, it might seem like slow progress to the outside world, but we track it and it’s going well,” Schaeffer said.

OK, time to crunch the numbers and see just how high the offense has climbed.

Big picture

Colorado entered the weekend series against the Athletics in Las Vegas with a 26-43 record and was on pace to finish 61-102. After 69 games last season, the Rockies were 13-56, and ultimately finished 43-119.

The Rockies’ minus-424 run differential in 2025 was the worst in baseball’s modern era (since 1900), surpassing the 1932 Boston Red Sox (minus-349). No other team has posted a minus-400 run differential at any point in a season in the modern era. Currently, the Rockies have a minus-100 run differential and are on pace to finish with a minus-235.

Slash line

Last season, Colorado’s .237 average, .293 on-base percentage, .386 slugging percentage, and .679 OPS were all the lowest in franchise history.

Things are looking up. Entering the weekend, the Rockies’ slash line was .249/.319/.396 with a .715 OPS. Not an offensive juggernaut by any means — by comparison, the mighty Dodgers are hitting .264/.346/.443 with a .789 OPS — but an improvement.

Clutch hitting

The 2025 Rockies batted .233 with runners in scoring position, the second-lowest average in the majors and the lowest in franchise history. Colorado’s 29 home runs with runners in scoring position were tied for 27th in the majors and tied for the lowest in a full season in franchise history with the 2013 club.

There has been marked improvement this season. The Rockies are hitting .258 with runners in scoring position, ranking 11th in the majors. However, Colorado’s 12 homers with runners in scoring position rank 26th.

Thievery

Schaeffer vowed that the Rockies would steal more bases, and they have. Through their first 66 games, they had swiped 53 bags, their most since 2000 when they had 63 stolen bases in 66 games.

The Rockies rank 10th in the majors. Last season, they finished with 87, ranking 23rd.

Swings and whiffs

Cleaning up all of the ugly, empty at-bats remains one of DePodesta’s top priorities.

“I think foundationally, we as an organization needed to have more plate discipline,” he said last Sunday. “This past year, our chase rate was the highest in baseball — not just in the big leagues, but also in Triple-A, also in Double-A, also in High-A, also in Low-A. So we have a lot of room to make up, just to be on par with some of our competitors in that space.”

Like Schaeffer, DePodesta believes that putting the ball in play is key, especially at Coors Field, where bloop singles, as well as doubles and triples into the alleys, can make life miserable for opposing pitchers.

“We just need to take advantage of all the holes that are out there in the outfield,” DePodesta said. “We need to be able to put more balls in play. In order to do that, we need to swing at better pitches to hit, and we’ve started to do that, which I think has been really encouraging.”

“We’ve started to do that,” is the key phrase here. Last season, the Rockies’ 1,531 strikeouts were the third-most in club history and second-most in the majors behind the Angels (1,627). This season, the Rockies have the fifth most with 621 and are on pace for 1,458. That’s an improvement, though not a massive improvement.

Last season, Colorado finished with a 51.0 swing percentage, a 31.7 chase percentage, and a 29.0 whiff percentage, all the highest marks in the majors.

There have been only incremental improvements this season.  The whiff percentage has dropped to 25.9% (12th highest), but the 51.1% swing rate remains the highest, as does the 34.4% chase rate.

Power supply

The Rockies are still not putting the ball over the wall with much frequency. The 2025 Rockies hit 160 home runs, ranking 25th in the majors and tied for the seventh-fewest for a full season in franchise history (also 2008). This season, Colorado has hit 67 homers (tied for 21st with San Diego) and is on pace to hit just 157 homers.

Curiously, and ominously, the Rockies have hit just 34 home runs at high-altitude Coors Field this season, ranking 19th in the majors. The Rockies are counting on the return of Mickey Moniak from an injured ankle and more homers from rookies like TJ Rumfield and Cole Carrigg to boost the power supply.

It’s the catchy slogan that the Rockies conjured up for their rebuild. The trek figures to be long and steep, but just how long and how steep depends on the route that Paul DePodesta, Josh Byrnes and company take.

The next few months will be telling. DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, and Byrnes, the general manager, must decide who to trade and who to hold onto before the Aug. 3 deadline. They must also decide which prospects to promote, and when.

It’s quite a to-do list.

Let’s start with the trade deadline, something the Rockies have often been reticent to maneuver in the past. DePodesta said trade talks right now are “preliminary.”

“We haven’t canvassed the league or anything like that, but we are starting to have some conversations if there is a potential match,” he said Sunday before the Rockies hosted the Brewers.

Jeff Passan, ESPN’s national baseball writer, that the Rockies “… are years away from contending, and nobody on their roster is untouchable.”

Asked about Passan’s take, DePodesta said, “There would be certain guys that would be really, really hard for us to move. I think that’s probably true of any team. There are guys that we feel are hopefully foundational players for us going forward.

“At the same time, we need to be opportunistic. We are not where we want to be. So, if there are opportunities for us to get better, certainly both in the short-term and the long-term, I think we need to look at that. I think it’s our responsibility to do that. But there are a lot of guys that we’re not actively shopping.”

Leading the list of “foundational players” would be All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and 2024 Gold Glove shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. The Rockies would also have to think long and hard about trading top prospects like Charlie Condon and Zac Veen.

The Rockies’ top trading chip is reborn reliever Antonio Senzatela. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and he’s the kind of pitcher contending teams can use. Despite his meltdown in Colorado’s extra-inning loss to Milwaukee Friday night, the erstwhile starter has been one of baseball’s best relievers this season. He had a 1.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a .195 average against heading into Sunday. The Rockies will likely be looking for starting pitching prospects in a trade for “Senza.”

Outfielder Mickey Moniak, currently on the injured list with tendinitis in his right ankle, will draw interest, too. He’s having an All-Star-type season — .280/.335/.607 (.942 OPS), 12 homers — and he’s a team-first player. His checkered career shows that he can be streaky, but he can also be a sparkplug.

Caution signs for interested teams include Moniak’s home-road splits — .306 average, nine homers at Coors Field vs. .246 average and three homers on the road — and the fact that he has one more year of arbitration left on his contract. He’s making $4 million this season.

The other players who might draw interest include veteran utility player Willi Castro, outfielders Jake McCarthy and Troy Johnston, right-handed starter Tomoyuki Sugano, left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino, and right-handed reliever Jaden Hill.

The Rockies’ offseason trade of right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli for first baseman TJ Rumfield showed that the new front office is willing to trade talented relievers.

The Rockies’ brass has much to debate.

For example, Sugano has been the most consistent starter (5-5, 3.98 ERA over 12 starts), and he’s pitching on a one-year, $5.1 million deal. But given the shaky state of the rotation, should the Rockies move him, try to skate by with fill-in starters who aren’t ready, and risk becoming the kind of no-hope team they were last season?

Or, consider McCarthy’s situation. He’s thriving at the top of the order, can roam center field, and his speed is an asset the Rockies need. Plus, he is under team control for two more years of arbitration and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.

The quandary facing the Rockies is that center fielder Brenton Doyle (currently on the IL with an oblique injury) has regressed from his 2024 season, and there are now questions about whether he’ll ever become a plus player. So, can the Rockies afford to trade McCarthy?

It depends on how much confidence the Rockies have in their prospect. Waiting to get his big-league chance is outfielder Cole Carrigg, who has the athleticism to play center field. The question facing DePodesta and Byrnes is when to call up Carrigg.

Fans, of course, want to see Carrigg sooner rather than later. The same goes for Veen and Condon. Fans see scorching numbers at Triple-A Albuquerque and clamor for promotions.

DePodesta, however, has made it clear he won’t rush players up before he thinks they’re ready. For instance, he doesn’t expect Condon to be an immediate star in the big leagues. DePodesta understands that Condon will face some tough times in the majors, but he wants Condon to be able to handle that failure and continue improving. He doesn’t want players buried by failure.

Most of all, DePodesta and his crew take a deep dive into factors other than the statistics and hot streaks that excite fans. DePodesta points to outfielder Sterlin Thompson, who made his debut on May 15.

“What really changed was the process of his at-bats,” DePodesta said. “He had very good numbers last season in Triple-A (.296 average, .911 OPS, 18 homers, 28 doubles), but his underlying numbers weren’t quite as strong. And then about mid-April of this year, he just really locked in … And I think the process of his at-bats was as good as anybody at Triple-A. That gave us conviction that he was ready to come up here and face the next challenge.”

Plus, during the Rockies’ disastrous 119-loss 2025 season, we saw what can happen when players are called up too soon. It can be disastrous. Veen’s struggles — on and off the field — are proof of that.

The Rockies have indeed begun their climb back toward respectability, but they remain a long way from being a contender. The steps DePodesta and Co. take over the next few months will be critical.

Another poor start from veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen, and hitting 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position cost Colorado in a 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Rumfield led off the eighth with a solo home run off Brandon Pfaadt, the first home run in 312 plate appearances for Colorado, just eight plate appearances shy of the longest drought in franchise history.

Key moments:  Arizona leadoff hitter Ketel Marte blasted a two-run, 424-foot homer off Lorenzen in the fourth to give the Diamondbacks a 5-2 lead. The ball came off Marte’s bat at 112.4 mph.

The Rockies had a chance for a big inning in the eighth, putting two men on after Rumfield’s homer, but the rally was short-circuited when Ezequiel Tovar’s bunt turned into a forceout at third, and Sterlin Thompson and Chad Stevens failed to drive in the tying run.

Who’s hot: Rumfield, who has the most hits of any rookie in the majors, went 3 for 4 and raised his average to .289 and his OPS to .819. Troy Johnston hit 2 for 3 and drove in a run in the fourth. Johnston is hitting .323.

Righty reliever Keegan Thompson made his Rockies debut and kept the Rockies in the game by pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and walked two, but worked his way out of trouble. Thompson did not make a big-league appearance in 2025, going 6-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 33 appearances for Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization. The Rockies picked him up off waivers in January.

Who’s not: Lorenzen, who saw his ERA rise from 7.03 to 7.21 after the D-backs tagged him for five runs on eight hits over five innings. However, Lorenzen struck out five while walking just one.  The right-hander entered the night with the highest ERA among pitchers with at least 10 starts. Opponents are hitting .353 off him, the highest average in the majors.

Third baseman Kyle Karros, coming off a homestand in which he hit .176 (3-17), is 0 for 9 in the first three games against Arizona, and his average is down to .200.

Worth noting: The Rockies’ lineup is limping. Infielder Willi Castro, initially slotted to start at first base and hit cleanup, was a late scratch Saturday night because of low back tightness. Castro had been swinging a solid bat of late, going 8-for-24 (.333) in his last eight games.

On Friday, the Rockies placed outfielder Mickey Moniak on the 10-day injured list with right ankle tendinitis. Moniak is hitting .280 and leads the team in home runs (12) and RBIs (28).

Pitching probables

Sunday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (2-2, 4.08 ERA) at Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.19), 2:10 p.m.
Monday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-5, 7.04) at Dodgers Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.93), 7:10 p.m.
Tuesday: Rockies TBA at Dodgers LHP Eric Lauer (1-5, 6.69), 8:10 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 3.68) at Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani (4-2, 0.73), 8:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA, 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies’ slumping outfielder was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain on Monday before Colorado hosted Texas at Coors Field. Beck injured the hamstring on Saturday while chasing flyballs before Colorado’s game against Arizona.

This season, Colorado had high hopes that Beck would evolve into an everyday player who could provide juice in the middle of the order. It hasn’t happened. His inability to hit right-handed pitching has limited his playing time and stalled his progress.

“I see a guy who is taking good, solid at-bats against left-handed pitching, and a guy who is struggling against right-handed pitching in general,” manager Warren Schaeffer said.

The statistics illustrate Beck’s dilemma. Against left-handed pitching, he’s slashing .316/.341/.526 (12-for-38) with three doubles, one triple and one home run. But he’s slashing .068 (3 for 44) vs. right-handers, the second-lowest average in the majors against right-handed pitchers (minimum 30 at-bats).

“Listen, honestly, it’s kind of a Catch 22 because he’s not getting a ton of at-bats against right-handed pitching, to be fair,” Schaeffer said. “Because of how our roster is constructed this year, we have a lot of left-handed batters — against right-handed pitching — that have really performed well over the course of the season.”

Schaeffer was referencing left-handed-hitting outfielders Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy and Troy Johnston.

“So, Jordan just hasn’t got the opportunities, probably, that he’s wanted so far,” Schaeffer continued. “He’s still a really good baseball player. Still, in my opinion, not a platoon player over the long haul of the future. It’s just where it’s at right now.”

Schaeffer said he doesn’t think Beck’s hamstring injury is severe.

Beck started slowly last season, too, and was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 7 after starting the season hitting 3 for 20 (.150) over nine games. He was recalled on April 19 and remained on the big-league roster the rest of the season. Following his recall, Beck slashed .262/.319/.426 with 27 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases.

During spring training, Beck said he was eager to improve as a hitter from both sides of the plate and geared his offseason routine to that goal.

“You’ve got to adapt at this level,” he said. “If you don’t, you get left behind, so you have to adjust. Every year, pitchers are coming up with new ways to attack you, so we need to handle that and be able to cover both sides of the plate even more.”

Roster shuffle. In other moves on Monday, Colorado optioned right-handed pitcher Blas Castaño to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled right-hander Zach Agnos. The club also recalled catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A.

Fulford was in the starting lineup Monday night as the designated hitter, batting ninth. His promotion gives Colorado three catchers on its 26-man roster.

“We brought him up to hit left-handed pitching and to make our lineup against left-handers more formidable,” Schaeffer said.

O’Dowd rakes. Low-A infielder Jack O’Dowd, the son of former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, was named the California League player of the week after slashing .450/.478/1.000 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, and seven RBIs for the Fresno Grizzlies.

On Saturday afternoon, with two outs and two men on, the Rockies’ veteran right-hander threw a 2-2, 92.2 mph changeup to Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo in the ninth inning. It was a gutsy choice to end a 10-pitch battle, and when centerfielder Brenton Doyle drifted back and gathered in the ball for the game’s final out, Senzatela pumped his fist.

The erstwhile starter closed out the Rockies’ 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Senzatela, who struggled mightily as a starter in 2025, is 3 for 3 in save chances this season and has emerged as one of the best relievers in baseball.

Veteran right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, dealing with flu-like symptoms, pitched five solid innings (two runs on seven hits) to set the table for Colorado’s victory. It was his 150th win, combining his career in Japan and the major leagues.

For Senzatela, getting the ball late in games is something new, but something he’s starting to crave. He likes the rush that comes with it.

“If you play baseball, you like pressure,” the 31-year-old said. “There is nothing easy in this game.”

He brought up his April 24 game at Citi Field in Queens when he pitched 1 2/3 innings to close out a 4-3 win over the Mets as a prime example of the adrenaline buzz that comes with the game on the line.

“Being out there with the lights and stuff, getting crazy, it was like, ‘Wow! This is new to me,” he said. “My heart rate was like (racing), and I liked it. And it was really fun today when I was heading out from the bullpen, and my song was really loud, and everybody was cheering. It reminded me of a postseason game.”

In 13 appearances this season, Senzatela is 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA, 25 strikeouts, just eight walks, and a minuscule 0.81 WHIP.

“‘Senza’ is calm, and he throws strikes, that’s what he does,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “What a battle there at the end with Perdomo. That’s good baseball.”

Before Saturday’s game, Scheaffer was asked if he was considering moving Senzatela back into the starting rotation now that right-handers Chase Dollander and Ryan Feltner are both on the injured list. Schaeffer said nothing doing.

“‘Senza’ is thriving where he is right now,” he said. “He’s one of the best relievers in the game, and that’s where he helps us win baseball games.”

Last season, opponents had a .352 batting average against Senzatela’s fastball, making it one of the most-hittable pitches in the majors. He posted a 6.65 ERA and served up a career-high 22 home runs. In 108 innings as a starter, Senzatela posted a 7.48 ERA and 1.91 WHIP before he was moved to the bullpen.

After extensive offseason work that included experimenting with different grips and a different pitch mix, Senza looks like a vastly different pitcher.

Colorado, which had lost seven of its last eight games at Coors Field heading into Saturday, desperately needed a strong performance from Sugano. Because, in May, starters were 0-9 with a 7.83 ERA.

“I was not (feeling) my best today, but once I determined (I was going to pitch), I wanted to go the distance,” Sugano said, using interpreter Yuto Sakurai.

Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in three of his five home starts this season, posting a 4.50 ERA at Coors.

“‘Tomo’ gave us all he had to today,” Schaeffer said. “He was battling a sickness before the game and we didn’t even know if he could go. He gave us five strong to (get) the win. He gave it everything he had.”

Colorado scored all of the runs it needed to win the game in the first two innings against Arizona lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who entered the game 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Willi Castro led off the first with a single, and Brenton Doyle followed with a double. TJ Rumfield and Mickey Moniak delivered run-scoring singles to put Colorado ahead, 2-0.

Kyle Karros led off the second with a double and scored on Jake McCarthy’s single.

Pitching probables

Sunday: Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (5-2, 3.53 ERA) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-5, 6.55), 1:10 p.m.
Monday: Rangers LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-3, 4.50) at Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.97), 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday: Rangers RHP Kumar Rocker (1-4, 4.34) at Rockies TBA, 6:40 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Or else why would the NFL bank on its most bankable quarterback, who tore his ACL last December, being ready for one of its most bankable windows (“Monday Night Football”) on one of its most bankable weeks (Week 1) and in one of its most bankable matchups (Broncos-Chiefs)?

Let’s get this out of the way first: The Grading The Week staff thinks the NFL is a giant, soulless, monolithic, cash-grabbing kaiju. But dang it, NFL officials sure know how to market and brand the living heck out of the most inane stuff. And at the most inane times of the year.

Fans can watch rookies run drills and pump iron at the scouting combine at Indy in February. The draft now looks (and sounds) like a football version of Lollapalooza. And the schedule release has somehow turned into one of the showcase events of the spring, elbowing its way onto the stage in the middle of the NBA and NHL’s postseasons with a mix of everything to

Speaking of fun, how about Rehab Bowl I? Between the Broncos and Chiefs, the best sports science staff wins. It’ll be like the pit crew competition during Indianapolis 500 weekend — only the wheels in this case are Bo Nix’s surgically-repaired right ankle and Mahomes’ new left knee.

Broncos getting Patrick Mahomes in Week 1 — B

Yes, the Broncos’ 2026 schedule is about 17 levels of pure brutality, especially before Halloween. So is it better for the Broncos to get the Chiefs out of the way early? And get Mahomes on the road out of the way early?

Well, historically, that glass is either half full or half empty, depending on which precedent you want to cherry-pick.

Good: Denver is 5-2 against the Chiefs in September since 2000. Less good: The Broncos went 1-1 when those matchups were played in KC.

Good: Mahomes has dropped two of his last three Week 1 contests. Less good: He’s 6-2 lifetime in openers as the Chiefs’ QB1, and 3-1 at home.

Good: Deshaun Watson and Robert Griffin III lost their debuts in the season immediately after they’d undergone major knee surgery. Less good: Tom Brady, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow all won their “comeback” appearances.

Burrow’s 2020 season ended with damage to his ACL, MCL and PCL. In his first start of 2021, Cincy Joe completed 20 of 27 throws for two scores in an overtime win over Minnesota.

Murray blew out his knee in Week 14 of the ’22 season. During his ’23 debut, Murray beat Atlanta at home.

Brady tore his ACL early in 2008. In his 2009 lid-lifter, he rallied the Pats to a 25-24 win over Buffalo on “Monday Night football,” throwing for two scores over the game’s final 2:10.

OK, so that last one wouldn’t be a particularly good omen.

Although this nugget is: Before 2026, the last time the Broncos had to travel to Kansas City for a road opener was … 2015. Just sayin’.

Antonio Senzatela’s rebound  — A-minus

The Rockies wrapped up their Keystone State road trip with a 2-4 record. Chase Dollander hurt his arm just as he was turning a corner. Michael Lorenzen and Coors Field look like a match made in Hades.

But, in the spirit of the Avs channeling all those 2022 vibes again, the baseball guys on the GTW crew are trying to keep it light and sunny when it comes to the news at 20th & Bleak.

After all, when wins are scarce, you celebrate the small ones, right? Mickey Moniak’s making a whale of an All-Star case, although catcher Hunter Goodman may pip him for that token Colorado spot. Starter Tomoyuki Sugano is keeping his walks down and some hopes high. And yet one of the most pleasant surprises of early May is how a guy the GTW kids had given up on — Antonio Senzatela — suddenly looks like the Rox’s most interesting potential deadline asset.

Colorado’s once-struggling righty is turning heads as a lockdown bullpen option. Heading into this weekend’s homestand, the 31-year-old had posted a 2,38 ERA over 11 1/3 innings at home this season, which is strong. He’d put up a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings on the road, which is even stronger. And, more to the point of a rebuild, tradeable.